Abutilon theophrasti (Velvet leaf) a medicinal weed: A Novel Ethnomedical Approach in Exploring Anti-Solar, Anti-Microbial, Anti-oxidant Efficacy

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the antisolar, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Abutilon theophrasti. For the evaluation of antisolar activity, a Shimadzu UV-1900 double beam UV spectrophotometer was used, along with standard SPF values. The antioxidant activity was analyzed through various methods, including DPPH, nitric oxide scavenging, ferrous ion chelating, ABTS, FRAP, NBT, and LPO assays. The determination of minimum inhibitory zone (MIC) and antimicrobial activity was conducted using the disc diffusion method. The results indicated that the plant extract exhibited significant antisolar activity, with SPF values exceeding 10, specifically 11.5 for the aqueous extract and 15.60 for the methanolic extract, providing substantial protection against UV radiation. Additionally, the methanolic extract displayed a zone of inhibition ranging from 10 to 20 mm, while the aqueous extract showed a zone of inhibition ranging from 11 to 21 mm against various bacterial and fungal strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The MIC values ranged from 8.76 to 46.59 mg/mL for the tested bacterial species and fungal species. Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of the extracts was assessed using various methods, and their IC50 values were found to be higher than those of standard antioxidants. These findings suggest that Abutilon theophrasti (Velvet leaf), a medicinal weed, possesses substantial potential as an antisolar, antimicrobial, and antioxidant agent.